Pneumatic tube for store service.



No. 812,162. PATENTED FEB. 6, 1906.

T. BEMIS. PNEUMATIC TUBE FOR STORE SERVICE.

APPLICATION FILED DEG.18, 1905 anucnnl'oz 9X 5 Hume:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS BEMIS, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

PNEUMATIC TUBE FOR STORE SERV|CE..

: Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 6, 1906.

Application filed December 18, 1905. Serial No. 292,830-

To all whom-j! may concern:

Be it known that l. 'luomms BEMIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in Pneumatic Tubes for Store ervice, of which the following is a specification.

In the use of pneumatic tubes for store service it is of advantage to have the sections composing such tubes coupled together by coupling devices wh ch not only make alrtight j oints, but whichare easlly and qiuckly removable in order that the tube may be opened at any joint throughout the line to enable carriers to be removed should they become stopped therein from any cause, particularly at the curves, where because of some impediment or some irregularity in the carrier it may at times get hung up My said invention consists, therefore, in an improved construction of devices for coupling the sections of pneumatic tubes to secure the advantages above noted, as will be here-' inafter more fully described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are made a art hereof and on which similar reference characters indicate similar parts, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a pneumatic tube at the point of a curve therein, showing the curve straight sections with my improved coupling devices, one of which is shown in section; Fig. 2, an end elevation of one of In coupling-sleeves with the parts assemble and in their normal positions before being clamped to the tube; Fig. 3, a similar view of one of the parts of said coupling-sleeve; Fig. 4, a cross-section looking in the direction indi cated by the arrows from the dotted line 4 4 in Fig. 5 with the parts in the Iposition they occupy when clamped u on t e tube; and Fig. 5, a side elevation o a joint in a tube made by one of the couplings, the parts being in operative position.

In said drawings the portions marked A represent the line of tubing, and B B the coupling-sleeve. The tubing A is of any character desired suitable for pneumatic .service and is composed of curved and straight sections, as is usual. The couplingsleeve is preferably composed of two dupli-.

cate parts B B, each of which is of substantially semicylindrical form and has its edges bent outwardly in substantially the shape shown in Figs. 2 and 3 when in their normal section coupled to the osition, formin flanges b, which extend the ength of the sl eeve and project at an angle, so that they will taper from the main body of the sleeve part to their outer edges in a direction toward each other. The extreme outer edges of said flanges b are bent over at ri ht angles, so that when the two parts are Brought together they will form a rib along the sides of the sleeve with closed surfaces. Clamping-screws b and nuts 5 are provided for clam ing and securing the parts, the nuts being eld by their straight edges resting against the sleeve part. The sides of the flanges b being at an angle to each other, a certain amount of elasticity or spring is afforded thereto, so that by screwing the clamping-screws b more or less tightly in the nuts b said flanges may be drawn together at the base to clam the pipe-section, such a movement until t e sides of said flanges are parallel being permitted. Each sleeve-section B has a separate semicylindrical section B, secured by a rivet b or otherwise on its inside, one edge of each part B being arranged to extend beyond the edge on the part B a distance to overla the joint between the two parts. By tlns means as the screws b are ti htened said parts B are drawn together rom the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 4, so that a com lete and air-tight joint is formed over the joint between the ends of the pipe-sections A. The tapered formation of the flanges b of the sleeve B ermit this operation, as above described, t e inturned points of the outer edge of said flanges 1) servin as a fulcrum over which the lower parts of said flanges are forced toward each other until a tight joint is formed and further serving to maintain a smooth and closed joint between the two parts.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A pneumatic tube for store service comprising a plurality of sections coupled together by a divided sleeve, a se )arate divided cylindrical section'secured within said sleeve with its joint to one side of the joint in said sleeve, each edge of said sleeve having an outwardly-extending flange, which flanges extend toward each other at an angle and have their outer edges turned toward each other and adapted to meet to form a rib with a closed outer edge,v and clampin -bolts extending through said flanges to raw them toward each other and clamp said sleeve upon said tube-sections, substantially as set forth.

2. In a pneumatic tube for store service, &c., the combination with two sections thereof, of a clamping-sleeve for securing them together com rising two parts, each art being substantialiy semicylindrical in orm With outwardly-extending flanges on its edges, clamping-bolts extending through said flanges, and a second semicylindrical part secured within each part of said clampingsleeve with one edge extending beyond the edge of said clamping-sleeve part and its other edge not extending to the edge of said sleeve part, whereby said internal sections when brought together form a com lete cylinder with 'a smooth interior sur ace wlth joints to one side of the joints between said sleeve arts, substantially as set forth.

In w1tness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, at Washin ton, District of Columbia, this 16th day 0 December, A. D.

THOMAS BEMIS. Witnesses A. M. PARKINS, E. W. BRADFORD.

[L. Si 

